SEC Approves Extended NYSE American Trading Hours for Equity Options

The SEC approved a rule change by NYSE American to establish early and late trading sessions for certain eligible equity options.

The exchange's Amendment No. 2 modified the proposed rule change, and the agency approved it on an accelerated basis. NYSE American filed the amendment on August 17, 2026. It superseded a July amendment that had itself replaced the exchange's original June proposal. The SEC said the amendment harmonizes the filing with extended-hours rules already approved for other options exchanges.

In the approval order, the SEC noted that the rule creates two new trading sessions in addition to the exchange's existing core trading session (see prior coverage). The early trading session will run from 7:30 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. Eastern Time, and the late trading session will run from 4:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Eastern Time. Every order must be designated for one or more trading sessions. Orders without a designation, or designated for a session that has already closed, will be rejected.

Market orders and stop orders will not be permitted during the extended sessions, given expected lower liquidity and wider spreads. Participation by market makers and specialists is voluntary, though those who choose to quote remain subject to continuous quoting obligations calculated in the aggregate across all trading sessions. Members that accept customer orders for the extended sessions must first disclose the associated trading risks.

NYSE American represented that it will not launch equity options trading during the new sessions until the SEC approves a related rule filing by the Options Clearing Corporation concerning clearance of equity options during extended trading.

Comment on Amendment No. 2 is open for 21 days after Federal Register publication.